Discussion:Pilotrichella (Miill. Hal.) Besch., Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 222. 1872; Neckera sect. Pseudopilotrichum Müll. Hal. subsect. Pilotrichella Müll. Hal., Syn. Muse. Frond. 2: 129. 1850.
Discussion. Pilotrichella is recognized in the restricted sense of only sect. Pilotrichella in Brotherus (1925). It is recognized by relatively robust plants on which the ecostate leaves are oblong-ovate and not or only obscurely ranked. The leaf base is subauriculate and harbors strongly differentiated, colored alar cells in mostly excavate groups. The setae are elongate and roughened above, elevating a capsule with a straight-rostrate operculum. The exostome teeth are cross-striolate below on the front surface. The calyptrae are densely hairy and cucullate.
The majority of species traditionally placed in Pilotrichella are here considered to belong to Orthostichella. They are differentiated by their smaller size, ranked leaves, nonauriculate leaf bases, poorly differentiated alar cells, short setae, obliquely rostrate opercula, papillose exostome teeth, smaller spores, and naked to sparsely hairy calyptrae. Squamidium, our other member of the Lembophyllaceae, has a single costa and mitrate calyptrae.